Improvement in amalgamators



' G. O'BRIEN. Amalgamat'or.

N0.'I99,O95. Patented Jan. 8, 1878i.

N. PETERS. PHOTO-LITHOGRAPHER, WASHINGTON. D c.

UNITED STATES. P 'rENTOEEIoE.

GEORGE OBRIEN, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

IMPROVEMENT IN AMALGAMATORS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 199,095, dated January8, 1878; application filed September 17, 1877.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE OBRIEN, of

London, in the coimty of Middlesex, England,

have invented certain new and useful Improvements in ArchimedeanEccentric Amalgamators, of which the following is a specification:

This invention relates to that class of amalgamators in which the ore isbrought in contact with a surface, which may be provided with a coat ofamalgam by centrifugal force.

My improvement consists in a cylinder or tube, of conical, pyramidal, orcylindrical form, and of any suitable material. The inner surface of thetube is either elliptical, rectangular, polygonal, or other non-circularform in crosssection, and is open at both ends. The tube is mounted inbearings of such construction as to adapt it to be turned by anysuitable machinery. The ore is inserted at either end of the tube.

The object of the present invention is to provide means for brighteningor' touching with quicksilver the metal in the ore as it is passed overthe inner surface of the tube, and thereby prepare the metallicparticles for final absorption in the quicksilver bath.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improvedamalgamator, having a conical tube, and being shown partly in sectionwith a funnel attached. Fig. 2 is a like view of an amalgamator providedwith a straight tube. Figs. 3 and 4 are end views of that form shown inFig. 1. Figs. 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 are transverse sections of tubes whoseinner surfaces are of different forms in cross-section.

A represents a tube, which may be of conical, pyramidal, or cylindricalshape, and formed of any suitable material capable of being ama1-gamated with quicksilver. The inner surface of the tube may be of anynon-circular form in cross-section, such as elliptical, polygonal, orrectangular. The tube is moimted in circular bearings B, whose innersurfaces are provided with anti-friction rollers O, which embrace thetube. The inner surface of the tube is free from all obstruction. Thetube is revolved at a high rate of speed by any suitable mechanism.

When a conical or pyramidal tube is used the ore is passed in from thecrusher or stamp at either the larger or the smaller end, as the casemay require. The ore is thrown, by the rapid rotation and shape of thetube, against the inner surface or amalgam lining, and carried by aspiral motion to the other end, where it is discharged into an ordinarymercury bath.

When a tube having parallel sides is used, one end is supported higherthan the other, and the ore is fed in at the higher end, passingthrough, as in a conical tube. The

preferred form of tube being non-circular in cross-section, the axis onwhich the tube rotates being in the direction of its length, and in thecenter of gravity of the cross-section, thereby causes eccentricity ofmotion and a consequent progressive spiral rotation in the current ofwater flowing from the crushers, or the deposit containing the metallicsubstances, the centrifugal force driving the liquid pulp into violentcontact with the inner surface of the tube.

If there is a declivity in the ground on which the device is located, orother motive rendering the conical form unnecessary, I sometimes use thestraight tube, but still form the inner surface of non-circular shape incrosssection.

In Figs. 1, 3, and 4., I show the form of funnel that I use to start thespiral movement of the liquid, as the moment the water enters the tubeit has no spiral progressive motion.

I provide a flange, D, at the point of entry, to keep the liquid inuntil it has acquired action. E is the funnel, which fits loosely intothe hole F.

I make the following distinction between my invention and existingmachines for a similar purpose, namely: I do not use blades, rims, orother projections in my tubes, which are clear in their sectionthroughout their length.

I depend upon the form of my tubes, as hereinabove described, to producethe desired effect of spreading the metallic or other substances in acontinuous and agitated stream over the inner surface of the tubes,causing a rubbing action between the particles and the surface of thetubes, which either amalgammates or cleans them, as the case mayrequire.

The process, in fact, removes extraneous sulo- An amalgamating-tube openat both ends,

stances, and brightens the metallic particles, and having its innersurface non-circular in thus preparing them by partial amalgamationcross-section, as set forth.

or cleansing for the final rocess of absorption T and separation. pGEORGE O BRIEL Having thus described my invention, the Witnesses:

following is What I claim as new and desire to ,7 J. E. BoWE,

secure by Letters Patent: F. PEREZ Y H.

